Two students preparing for a mock news segment

Greenspun College of Urban Affairs News

The Greenspun College of Urban Affairs is committed to creating contemporary solutions for resilient communities. Our academic programs focus on making effective public policy, creating support structures to meet behavioral and mental health challenges, ensuring cities are safe and prepared to meet emergency situations, effective and ethical journalism, and interpersonal and public communication strategies.

Current Urban Affairs News

group of students in red shirts inside Nevada legislature
Campus News |

Students stepped out of the classroom and into the heart of lawmaking at Nevada’s 83rd Legislative Session.

three students playing board game together
Campus News |

Students illustrate the invisible factors that define our status quo, one game at a time.

51ԹϺ Greenspun Building with Las Vegas Strip in background
Business and Community |

New report by 51ԹϺ MGM Public Policy Institute examines a high school Career and Technical Education program to increase job placement in hospitality sector.

photo illustration of person holding ipad with cloud of social media icons surrounding her. on red background
Research |

Arthur Soto-Vásquez, journalism and media studies professor, offers tips on media literacy.

A closeup on the sleeve of a red 51ԹϺ graduation gown bearing the words "Rebels Forever"
Campus News |

President Chris Heavey recognizes 10 students for their staunch commitment to academic excellence and service to the community.

51ԹϺ seasonal eggs
Campus News |

A collection of colorful headlines featuring 51ԹϺ staff and students.

Urban Affairs In The News

Today

You don't want your teen to “FAFO.” Or ... maybe you do, so they learn the consequences of their actions.

Las Vegas Review Journal

When Manuel Ruiz and Rodney Finley encountered each other on the Strip the night of June 8, their digital worlds collided with reality.

KLAS-TV: 8 News Now

Protests against federal immigration enforcement have ramped up across the country. In Nevada, the state faces a debate over immigration enforcement in schools.

The New Yorker

How our ideas about point of view got all turned around.

KSNV-TV: News 3

Social media is reshaping political discourse, particularly in how the White House communicates about immigration, according to Arthur Soto-Vasquez, a professor of ethics and equity studies at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

WalletHub

The median yearly income in the U.S. is approximately $81,000, according to the latest data from the Federal Reserve. However, income inequality remains a pressing issue, with some individuals earning significantly more while others continue to face financial hardship.

Urban Affairs Experts

An expert on local government and public policy. 
A criminologist with expert knowledge of police order-maintenance practices, police management, and community crime prevention.
An expert in crime science, crime prevention, and crowd management
An expert on interpersonal communication and long-distance relationships.
An expert in regional demographics, workforce development, and sustainable economic development.
Dean of the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs and expert in community renewal, risk and crisis communications. 

Recent Urban Affairs Accomplishments

Patrick Blennerhassett (Journalism) has published a book on Amazon called "The Death of Birth." Blennerhassett is also completing his master's of journalism and media studies at 51ԹϺ and is a full-time journalist at the Las Vegas Review-Journal. His book blends mystery, thriller, sci fi and speculative fiction into an action/adventure trilogy.
Aya Shata (Journalism and Media Studies) published an article titled, "Opting Out of AI”: exploring perceptions, reasons, and concerns behind faculty resistance to generative AI," at the Frontiers in Communication. Drawing on Innovation Resistance Theory and using a mixed-methods approach, the study examines faculty resistance to generative AI,…
Aya Shata's JOUR 433 IMC Competition class students (Journalism and Media Studies) at 51ԹϺ earned a Gold ADDY Award at the 2025 American Advertising Federation Awards. The 2024 student team was recognized for their campaign titled “Ride the Cold Wave,”  a comprehensive, multi-touchpoint IMC campaign for a real-world client,…
Alexandra Nur and Amber Krushas (Criminal Justice) published an article titled, "Outside in: The role of visitation on within-prison and post-release behavior," in the Journal of Criminal Justice. The article explores whether patterns of visits received in prison are related to misconduct while incarcerated and parole violation once released…
Camila Salgado (Political Science), a Hixson-Lied Scholar, has been awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Spain for the 2025-2026 academic year. Sponsored by the U.S.-Spain Fulbright Commission and the Gobierno de Canarias, Salgado will live and work in the Canary Islands, assisting in English language classrooms and supporting…
Steven Pace (Criminal Justice) was a guest on the NPR radio show, "All Things Considered," hosted by Lakshmi Singh. Pace proved analysis concerning the arrest of Luigi Mangione in December 2024.